Posts

Showing posts from October 23, 2016



Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Did you know?

1. No African country names begin with the letters F, H, I, J, O, P, Q, V, W, X, or Y.

2. Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent.

3. The Republic of the Congo is one of the most urbanized countries in Africa.

Write your name using the Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet

Image
Write your name using the Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet What do the hieroglyphics symbols mean and how to write using the Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet. Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet What are Egyptian Hieroglyphics? Egyptian Hieroglyphics are characters in which symbols represent objects and ideas. Hieroglyphics can be pictures of living creatures such as an owl, objects used in daily life such as a basket or symbols such as lasso. Most of the pictures stand for the object they represent, but usually, they stand for sounds. You cannot exactly match the American English alphabet to hieroglyphics, because they are two very different languages, but historians have come up with a simplified translation of our letters and Egyptian hieroglyphs. What do the hieroglyphics symbols mean? A an Egyptian vulture B a foot C a basket with handle D a hand E a reed F a horned viper, an Egyptian snake G a jar-stand H a reed shelter I a reed J a cobra K the basket with

Red, Black and Green, Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon

Image
Interesting History of the Red, Black and Green Pan-African Flag Marcus Garvey in response to the 1900 coon song created the Pan-African flag in 1920. The Pan-African flag or Black Liberation Flag is a tricolor flag consisting of three equal horizontal bands colored red, black and green.  The three colors on the Pan-African flag represent red for the blood that unites all people of Black African ancestry, and shed for liberation, black for the people of Black African ancestry and green for the abundant natural wealth of Africa. Jamaican political leader Marcus Garvey was a founding member and former president of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA) created the Pan-African flag in 1920 in response to the 1900 song "Every Race Has a Flag but the Coon." The song was written by Will A. Heelan and J. Fred Helf was very popular in the United States and Britain.  A 1921 report app

The where and why food loss and waste happens

Image
Hungry people and policymakers throughout the world want to reduce food loss and waste therefore people need to know where it occurs and where interventions will be the most impactful. Food loss is the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by food suppliers in the chain. Food loss refers to any food that is discarded, incinerated or otherwise disposed of along the food supply chain from harvest. However food waste refers to the decrease in the quantity or quality of food resulting from decisions and actions by retailers, food service providers and consumers. The where and why food loss and waste happens At the farm Important causes of on-farm losses include inadequate harvesting time, climatic conditions, practices applied at harvest and handling, and challenges in marketing produce. Food loss and waste entails poor use of resources and negative environmental impacts. It is forecast that a growing population and rising incomes will lead to

When is Autumn Weather in South Africa

Image
Autumn Weather in Africa Autumn in Africa just like any other place. In the southern hemisphere of Africa, seasons are opposite to those of Europe and North America. When is Autumn Weather in South Africa About the Causes of Seasons and Weather in Africa Autumn in Africa just like any other place around the world, it is a season between summer and winter where the temperatures gradually decrease, please fall from the trees and animals begin that preparation for winter. Southern Africa is located in the southern hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is south of the Equator and about 60% of Africa lies in the Southern Hemisphere. Angola, Botswana, Burundi, ESwatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are all totally located in the Southern Hemisphere. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, São Tomé and Príncipe, Som

Burdens of Women Collecting Firewood in Africa

Image
Throughout Africa, women and girls walk for hours a day in the hope of finding a few branches or roots to use as firewood; to avoid the midday sun, many leave their homes before sunrise. Burdens of Women Collecting Firewood in Africa Dangers of women collecting firewood in Africa range from spinal and pelvic injuries to sexual assault, rape, and harassment. Almost all African countries still rely on wood to meet basic energy needs, in fact over 80% of the energy supply in African countries comes from wood. In these countries, woodfuels not only are vital to the nutrition of rural and urban households but are also often essential in food processing industries for baking, brewing, smoking, curing and electricity production. The World Health Organization states that “Over 98,000 Nigerian women die annually from the use of firewood. If a woman cooks breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it is equivalent to smoking between three and 20 packets of cigarettes a day.” Fuelwood accounts for

Traditional South African Gooseberry Jam Recipe

Image
Traditional South African Gooseberry Jam Recipe Native to Peru and Chile, today gooseberries grow in 34 out of 54 African countries. Gooseberry  fruit is covered in its own papery husk which is botanically called the calyx; the flavor is delicious bittersweet and pleasant with a unique tomato pineapple like blend.  All parts of the plant, except the fruit, are poisonous.   The fruit is usually eaten raw or cooked in pies, cakes, jellies, and jams. The fruit is rich in vitamin A, and vitamin C. Gooseberries grow naturally in tropical regions around the world grown for its fruit to use in many recipes and medicinally. Traditional Gooseberry Jam Gooseberry Jam is a classic recipe especially in Southern Africa. Gooseberries are high in pectin; making jams and jellies are easy to prepare with the bittersweet fruit. Ingredients      2 pounds Cape Gooseberries     5 cups sugar 1/4 cup water Directions Add all ingredients together, bring to a bo

Africa is surrounded by water but is not an island, here are a few African Island facts.

Madagascar is the 4th large island in the world and is located in the Indian Ocean supporting a unique biology, about 90% of its plants and animals are found nowhere else on earth.

Composed of 155 islands, Seychelles is Africa's smallest country. By far the largest island is Mahe, home to about 90% of the population and the site of its capital city of Victoria.

Cabo Verde has a strategic location 310 miles or 500 km from the west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site.

Africa is surrounded by water but by definition Africa is not an island because Africa is a continent. Continents can not be considered islands because of their size and also by historic definition since many people who study geography define islands and continents as two different things.

African cultures express, encourage, and communicate energy

Support African History and Culture

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet are dedicated to discovering, collecting and sharing African history and heritage celebrating 14 years of service in 2021. Share and support in the pride of being part of an important cultural and educational resource.



Being African in America I have grown up learning about different ethnic cultures. My father and mother are historians of African culture and history and their influence expanded my activities to several best-selling cookbooks, magazine columns, self-branded products, and a popular African culture and food blog.

Chic African Culture


Be better than average and support African history and culture. Since 2008 Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet highlight Africa through her food and culture. Contact us culture1africangourmet@gmail.com

More LOVE from Africa to Read About